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Wang T, Wang B, Fan X, Cai Y, Li L, Fu S. Type B thymomas in patients with myasthenia gravis display a distinctive pattern of αβ TCR and IL-7 receptor α expression on CD4 +CD8 + thymocytes. Autoimmunity 2024; 57:2347379. [PMID: 38723105 DOI: 10.1080/08916934.2024.2347379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Thymoma is closely associated with myasthenia gravis (MG). However, due to the heterogeneity of thymoma and the intricate pathogenesis of MG, it remains unclear why some patients with thymoma develop MG and others do not. In this study, we conducted a comparative phenotype analysis of thymocytes in type B thymomas in patients with MG (MG (+) thymomas) and without MG (MG (-) thymomas) via fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Our results show that the developmental stages defined by the expression of CD3, CD4, and CD8 were largely maintained in both MG (+) and MG (-) thymomas, with CD4+CD8+ cells constituting the majority of thymocytes in type B thymoma, and no significant difference between this cell population was observed in MG (+) and MG (-) thymomas.We discovered that CD4+CD8+ thymocytes in MG (+) thymomas expressed low levels of αβ TCR and high levels of IL-7 receptor α (IL-7Rα), whereas in MG (-) thymomas, CD4+CD8+ thymocytes exhibited the opposite pattern of αβ TCR and IL-7Rα expression. These results suggest that the positive and negative selection processes of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes might differ between MG (+) thymomas and MG (-) thymomas. The expression of the Helios transcription factor is induced during negative selection and marks a group of T cells that have undergone negative selection and are likely to be deleted due to strong TCR binding with self-peptides/MHC ligands. We observed that the percentage of Helios-positive CD4SP T cells was greater in MG (-) than in MG (+) thymomas. Thus, the differentially regulated selection process of CD4+CD8+ thymocytes, which involves TCR and IL-7/IL-7Rα signaling, is associated with the presence of MG in type B thymomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianlai Wang
- Thoracic Surgery Laboratory, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Boyu Wang
- Thoracic Surgery Laboratory, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaowu Fan
- Thoracic Surgery Laboratory, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yixin Cai
- Thoracic Surgery Laboratory, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lequn Li
- Thoracic Surgery Laboratory, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Shengling Fu
- Thoracic Surgery Laboratory, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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2
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Dinges SS, Amini K, Notarangelo LD, Delmonte OM. Primary and secondary defects of the thymus. Immunol Rev 2024; 322:178-211. [PMID: 38228406 PMCID: PMC10950553 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
The thymus is the primary site of T-cell development, enabling generation, and selection of a diverse repertoire of T cells that recognize non-self, whilst remaining tolerant to self- antigens. Severe congenital disorders of thymic development (athymia) can be fatal if left untreated due to infections, and thymic tissue implantation is the only cure. While newborn screening for severe combined immune deficiency has allowed improved detection at birth of congenital athymia, thymic disorders acquired later in life are still underrecognized and assessing the quality of thymic function in such conditions remains a challenge. The thymus is sensitive to injury elicited from a variety of endogenous and exogenous factors, and its self-renewal capacity decreases with age. Secondary and age-related forms of thymic dysfunction may lead to an increased risk of infections, malignancy, and autoimmunity. Promising results have been obtained in preclinical models and clinical trials upon administration of soluble factors promoting thymic regeneration, but to date no therapy is approved for clinical use. In this review we provide a background on thymus development, function, and age-related involution. We discuss disease mechanisms, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches for primary and secondary thymic defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah S. Dinges
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kayla Amini
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Luigi D. Notarangelo
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ottavia M. Delmonte
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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3
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Lee S, Song SG, Chung DH. Comprehensive Transcriptomic Analysis for Thymic Epithelial Cells of Aged Mice and Humans. Immune Netw 2023; 23:e36. [PMID: 37970235 PMCID: PMC10643332 DOI: 10.4110/in.2023.23.e36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) play a critical role in thymic development and thymopoiesis. As individuals age, TECs undergo various changes that impact their functions, leading to a reduction in cell numbers and impaired thymic selection. These age-related alterations have been observed in both mice and humans. However, the precise mechanisms underlying age-related TEC dysfunction remain unclear. Furthermore, there is a lack of a comprehensive study that connects mouse and human biological processes in this area. To address this gap, we conducted an extensive transcriptome analysis of young and old TECs in mice, complemented by further analysis of publicly available human TEC single-cell RNA sequencing data. Our analysis revealed alterations in both known and unknown pathways that potentially contribute to age-related TEC dysfunction. Specifically, we observed downregulation of pathways related to cell proliferation, T cell development, metabolism, and cytokine signaling in old age TECs. Conversely, TGF-β, BMP, and Wnt signaling pathways were upregulated, which have been known to be associated with age-related TEC dysfunctions or newly discovered in this study. Importantly, we found that these age-related changes in mouse TECs were consistently present in human TECs as well. This cross-species validation further strengthens the significance of our findings. In conclusion, our comprehensive analysis provides valuable insight into the biological and immunological characteristics of aged TECs in both mice and humans. These findings contribute to a better understanding of thymic involution and age-induced immune dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangsin Lee
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Seung Geun Song
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
| | - Doo Hyun Chung
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
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4
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Rouse P, Henderson T, Venkateswaran S, Sweetman J, Duffy C, Bradley M, Blackburn CC. An induced thymic epithelial cell-based high throughput screen for thymus extracellular matrix mimetics. Eur J Immunol 2023; 53:e2249934. [PMID: 36645212 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202249934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are key effectors of the thymic stroma and are critically required for T-cell development. TECs comprise a diverse set of related but functionally distinct cell types that are scarce and difficult to isolate and handle. This has precluded TEC-based screening assays. We previously described induced thymic epithelial cells (iTECs), an artificial cell type produced in vitro by direct reprogramming, raising the possibility that iTECs might provide the basis for functional screens related to TEC biology. Here, we present an iTEC-based three-stage medium/high-throughput in vitro assay for synthetic polymer mimics of thymic extracellular matrix (ECM). Using this assay, we identified, from a complex library, four polymers that bind iTEC as well as or better than gelatin but do not bind mesenchymal cells. We show that these four polymers also bind and maintain native mouse fetal TECs and native human fetal TECs. Finally, we show that the selected polymers do not interfere with iTEC function or T-cell development. Collectively, our data establish that iTECs can be used to screen for TEC-relevant compounds in at least some medium/high-throughput assays and identify synthetic polymer ECM mimics that can replace gelatin or ECM components in TEC culture protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Rouse
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Stem Cell Research, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Timothy Henderson
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Stem Cell Research, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
- Australian National University Medical School, The Canberra Hospital, Garran, ACT 2605, Australia
| | | | - Joanna Sweetman
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Stem Cell Research, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Cairnan Duffy
- School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Joseph Black Building, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL, UK
| | - Mark Bradley
- School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Joseph Black Building, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL, UK
| | - C Clare Blackburn
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Stem Cell Research, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
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5
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Petrušić M, Stojić-Vukanić Z, Pilipović I, Kosec D, Prijić I, Leposavić G. Thymic changes as a contributing factor in the increased susceptibility of old Albino Oxford rats to EAE development. Exp Gerontol 2023; 171:112009. [PMID: 36334894 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2022.112009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The study was aimed to examine putative contribution of thymic involution to ageing-associated increase in susceptibility of Albino Oxford (AO) rats to the development of clinical EAE, and vice versa influence of the disease on the progression of thymic involution. To this end we examined (i) the parameters of thymocyte negative selection efficacy, the thymic generation of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T regulatory cells (Tregs) and thymic capacity to instruct/predetermine IL-17-producing T-cell differentiation, and thymopietic efficacy-associated accumulation of "inflammescent" cytotoxic CD28- T cells in the periphery, and (ii) the key underlying mechanisms in young and old non-immunised AO rats and their counterparts immunised for EAE (on the 16th day post-immunisation when the disease in old rats reached the plateau) using flow cytometry analysis and/or RT-qPCR. It was found that thymic involution impairs: (i) the efficacy of negative selection (by affecting thymocyte expression of CD90, negative regulator of selection threshold and the expression of thymic stromal cell integrity factors) and (ii) Treg generation (by diminishing expression of cytokines supporting their differentiation/maturation). Additionally, the results suggest that thymic involution facilitates CD8+ T-cell differentiation into IL-17-producing cells (previously linked to the development of clinical EAE in old AO rats). Furthermore, they confirmed that ageing-related decrease in thymic T-cell output (as indicated by diminished frequency of recent thymic emigrants in peripheral blood) resulted in the accumulation of CD28- T cells in peripheral blood and, upon immunisation, in the target organ. On the other hand, the development of EAE (most likely by increasing circulatory levels of proinflammatory cytokines) contributed to the decline in thymic output of T cells, including Tregs, and thereby to the progression/maintenance of clinical EAE. Thus, in AO rats thymic involution via multi-layered mechanisms may favour the development of clinically manifested autoimmunity, which, in turn, precipitates the thymus atrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Petrušić
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Pharmacy, 450 Vojvode Stepe, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Zorica Stojić-Vukanić
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Pharmacy, 450 Vojvode Stepe, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ivan Pilipović
- Immunology Research Centre "Branislav Janković", Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera "Torlak", 458 Vojvode Stepe, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Duško Kosec
- Immunology Research Centre "Branislav Janković", Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera "Torlak", 458 Vojvode Stepe, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ivana Prijić
- Immunology Research Centre "Branislav Janković", Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera "Torlak", 458 Vojvode Stepe, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Gordana Leposavić
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Pharmacy, 450 Vojvode Stepe, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia.
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6
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IL-7: Comprehensive review. Cytokine 2022; 160:156049. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2022.156049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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7
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Ling S, You Z, Li Y, Zhang J, Zhao S, He Y, Chen X. The role of γδ T17 cells in cardiovascular disease. J Leukoc Biol 2022; 112:1649-1661. [PMID: 36073777 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.3mr0822-761rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the ability of γδ T cells to bridge adaptive and innate immunity, γδ T cells can respond to a variety of molecular cues and acquire the ability to induce a variety of cytokines such as IL-17 family, IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-10. IL-17+ γδ T cells (γδ T17 cells) populations have recently received considerable interest as they are the major early source of IL-17A in many immune response models. However, the exact mechanism of γδ T17 cells is still poorly understood, especially in the context of cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD is the leading cause of death in the world, and it tends to be younger. Here, we offer a review of the cardiovascular inflammatory and immune functions of γδ T17 cells in order to understand their role in CVD, which may be the key to developing new clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoxue Ling
- College of Pharmaceutical Engineering of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Zonghao You
- College of Pharmaceutical Engineering of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Yang Li
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Shuwu Zhao
- School of Intergrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Yongzhi He
- College of Pharmaceutical Engineering of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Xi Chen
- College of Pharmaceutical Engineering of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin, 301617, China
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8
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Zhao Y, Wei K, Chi H, Xia Z, Li X. IL-7: A promising adjuvant ensuring effective T cell responses and memory in combination with cancer vaccines? Front Immunol 2022; 13:1022808. [PMID: 36389666 PMCID: PMC9650235 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1022808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer vaccines exhibit specificity, effectiveness, and safety as an alternative immunotherapeutic strategy to struggle against malignant diseases, especially with the rapid development of mRNA cancer vaccines in recent years. However, how to maintain long-term immune memory after vaccination, especially T cells memory, to fulfill lasting surveillance against cancers, is still a challenging issue for researchers all over the world. IL-7 is critical for the development, maintenance, and proliferation of T lymphocytes, highlighting its potential role as an adjuvant in the development of cancer vaccines. Here, we summarized the IL-7/IL-7 receptor signaling in the development of T lymphocytes, the biological function of IL-7 in the maintenance and survival of T lymphocytes, the performance of IL-7 in pre-clinical and clinical trials of cancer vaccines, and the rationale to apply IL-7 as an adjuvant in cancer vaccine-based therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhao
- Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Kongyuan Wei
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hao Chi
- Clinical Medical Collage, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Zhijia Xia
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
- *Correspondence: Zhijia Xia, ; Xiaosong Li,
| | - Xiaosong Li
- Clinical Molecular Medicine Testing Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Zhijia Xia, ; Xiaosong Li,
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9
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Song EH, Xu M, Yang J, Xiao Y, Griffith AV, Xiong N. Delta-like 4-Derived Notch Signals Differentially Regulate Thymic Generation of Skin-Homing CCR10 +NK1.1 + Innate Lymphoid Cells at Neonatal and Adult Stages. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 209:950-959. [PMID: 35922065 PMCID: PMC9492633 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ for T cell development. Increasing evidence found that the thymus is also an important site for development of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). ILCs generated in thymi acquire unique homing properties that direct their localization into barrier tissues such as the skin and intestine, where they help local homeostasis. Mechanisms underlying the developmental programming of unique tissue-homing properties of ILCs are poorly understood. We report in this article that thymic stroma-derived Notch signaling is differentially involved in thymic generation of a population of NK1.1+ group 1 ILCs (ILC1s) with the CCR10+ skin-homing property in adult and neonatal mice. We found that thymic generation of CCR10+NK1.1+ ILC1s is increased in T cell-deficient mice at adult, but not neonatal, stages, supporting the notion that a large number of developing T cells interfere with signals required for generation of CCR10+NK1.1+ ILC1s. In an in vitro differentiation assay, increasing Notch signals promotes generation of CCR10+NK1.1+ ILC1s from hematopoietic progenitors. Knockout of the Notch ligand Delta-like 4 in thymic stroma impairs generation of CCR10+NK1.1+ ILC1s in adult thymi, but development of CCR10+NK1.1+ ILC1s in neonatal thymi is less dependent on Delta-like 4-derived Notch signals. Mechanistically, the Notch signaling is required for proper expression of the IL-7R CD127 on thymic NK1.1+ ILC1s, and deficiency of CD127 also impairs thymic generation of CCR10+NK1.1+ ILC1s at adult, but not perinatal, stages. Our findings advanced understanding of regulatory mechanisms of thymic innate lymphocyte development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Hyeon Song
- The Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biosciences Graduate Program, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Ming Xu
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Jie Yang
- The Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biosciences Graduate Program, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
| | - Yangming Xiao
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Ann V Griffith
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Na Xiong
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX;
- Division of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX; and
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
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10
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Shichkin VP, Antica M. Key Factors for Thymic Function and Development. Front Immunol 2022; 13:926516. [PMID: 35844535 PMCID: PMC9280625 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.926516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus is the organ responsible for T cell development and the formation of the adaptive immunity function. Its multicellular environment consists mainly of the different stromal cells and maturing T lymphocytes. Thymus-specific progenitors of epithelial, mesenchymal, and lymphoid cells with stem cell properties represent only minor populations. The thymic stromal structure predominantly determines the function of the thymus. The stromal components, mostly epithelial and mesenchymal cells, form this specialized area. They support the consistent developmental program of functionally distinct conventional T cell subpopulations. These include the MHC restricted single positive CD4+ CD8- and CD4- CD8+ cells, regulatory T lymphocytes (Foxp3+), innate natural killer T cells (iNKT), and γδT cells. Several physiological causes comprising stress and aging and medical treatments such as thymectomy and chemo/radiotherapy can harm the thymus function. The present review summarizes our knowledge of the development and function of the thymus with a focus on thymic epithelial cells as well as other stromal components and the signaling and transcriptional pathways underlying the thymic cell interaction. These critical thymus components are significant for T cell differentiation and restoring the thymic function after damage to reach the therapeutic benefits.
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11
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Bhalla P, Su DM, van Oers NSC. Thymus Functionality Needs More Than a Few TECs. Front Immunol 2022; 13:864777. [PMID: 35757725 PMCID: PMC9229346 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.864777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The thymus, a primary lymphoid organ, produces the T cells of the immune system. Originating from the 3rd pharyngeal pouch during embryogenesis, this organ functions throughout life. Yet, thymopoiesis can be transiently or permanently damaged contingent on the types of systemic stresses encountered. The thymus also undergoes a functional decline during aging, resulting in a progressive reduction in naïve T cell output. This atrophy is evidenced by a deteriorating thymic microenvironment, including, but not limited, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions, fibrosis and adipogenesis. An exploration of cellular changes in the thymus at various stages of life, including mouse models of in-born errors of immunity and with single cell RNA sequencing, is revealing an expanding number of distinct cell types influencing thymus functions. The thymus microenvironment, established through interactions between immature and mature thymocytes with thymus epithelial cells (TEC), is well known. Less well appreciated are the contributions of neural crest cell-derived mesenchymal cells, endothelial cells, diverse hematopoietic cell populations, adipocytes, and fibroblasts in the thymic microenvironment. In the current review, we will explore the contributions of the many stromal cell types participating in the formation, expansion, and contraction of the thymus under normal and pathophysiological processes. Such information will better inform approaches for restoring thymus functionality, including thymus organoid technologies, beneficial when an individuals’ own tissue is congenitally, clinically, or accidentally rendered non-functional.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratibha Bhalla
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Dong-Ming Su
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Genetics, The University of North Texas Health Sciences Center, Fort Worth, TX, United States
| | - Nicolai S C van Oers
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States.,Department of Microbiology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
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12
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Khosravi-Maharlooei M, Madley R, Borsotti C, Ferreira LMR, Sharp RC, Brehm MA, Greiner DL, Parent AV, Anderson MS, Sykes M, Creusot RJ. Modeling human T1D-associated autoimmune processes. Mol Metab 2022; 56:101417. [PMID: 34902607 PMCID: PMC8739876 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2021.101417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease characterized by impaired immune tolerance to β-cell antigens and progressive destruction of insulin-producing β-cells. Animal models have provided valuable insights for understanding the etiology and pathogenesis of this disease, but they fall short of reflecting the extensive heterogeneity of the disease in humans, which is contributed by various combinations of risk gene alleles and unique environmental factors. Collectively, these factors have been used to define subgroups of patients, termed endotypes, with distinct predominating disease characteristics. SCOPE OF REVIEW Here, we review the gaps filled by these models in understanding the intricate involvement and regulation of the immune system in human T1D pathogenesis. We describe the various models developed so far and the scientific questions that have been addressed using them. Finally, we discuss the limitations of these models, primarily ascribed to hosting a human immune system (HIS) in a xenogeneic recipient, and what remains to be done to improve their physiological relevance. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS To understand the role of genetic and environmental factors or evaluate immune-modifying therapies in humans, it is critical to develop and apply models in which human cells can be manipulated and their functions studied under conditions that recapitulate as closely as possible the physiological conditions of the human body. While microphysiological systems and living tissue slices provide some of these conditions, HIS mice enable more extensive analyses using in vivo systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Khosravi-Maharlooei
- Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rachel Madley
- Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chiara Borsotti
- Department of Health Sciences, Histology laboratory, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Leonardo M R Ferreira
- Departments of Microbiology & Immunology, and Regenerative Medicine & Cell Biology, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Robert C Sharp
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Michael A Brehm
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Dale L Greiner
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Audrey V Parent
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mark S Anderson
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Megan Sykes
- Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Remi J Creusot
- Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
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13
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Magaletta ME, Lobo M, Kernfeld EM, Aliee H, Huey JD, Parsons TJ, Theis FJ, Maehr R. Integration of single-cell transcriptomes and chromatin landscapes reveals regulatory programs driving pharyngeal organ development. Nat Commun 2022; 13:457. [PMID: 35075189 PMCID: PMC8786836 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28067-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Maldevelopment of the pharyngeal endoderm, an embryonic tissue critical for patterning of the pharyngeal region and ensuing organogenesis, ultimately contributes to several classes of human developmental syndromes and disorders. Such syndromes are characterized by a spectrum of phenotypes that currently cannot be fully explained by known mutations or genetic variants due to gaps in characterization of critical drivers of normal and dysfunctional development. Despite the disease-relevance of pharyngeal endoderm, we still lack a comprehensive and integrative view of the molecular basis and gene regulatory networks driving pharyngeal endoderm development. To close this gap, we apply transcriptomic and chromatin accessibility single-cell sequencing technologies to generate a multi-omic developmental resource spanning pharyngeal endoderm patterning to the emergence of organ-specific epithelia in the developing mouse embryo. We identify cell-type specific gene regulation, distill GRN models that define developing organ domains, and characterize the role of an immunodeficiency-associated forkhead box transcription factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret E Magaletta
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Macrina Lobo
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Eric M Kernfeld
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Hananeh Aliee
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
| | - Jack D Huey
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Teagan J Parsons
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Fabian J Theis
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
- Department of Mathematics, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany
| | - René Maehr
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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14
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Huang J, Long Z, Jia R, Wang M, Zhu D, Liu M, Chen S, Zhao X, Yang Q, Wu Y, Zhang S, Tian B, Mao S, Ou X, Sun D, Gao Q, Cheng A. The Broad Immunomodulatory Effects of IL-7 and Its Application In Vaccines. Front Immunol 2021; 12:680442. [PMID: 34956167 PMCID: PMC8702497 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.680442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is produced by stromal cells, keratinocytes, and epithelial cells in host tissues or tumors and exerts a wide range of immune effects mediated by the IL-7 receptor (IL-7R). IL-7 is primarily involved in regulating the development of B cells, T cells, natural killer cells, and dendritic cells via the JAK-STAT, PI3K-Akt, and MAPK pathways. This cytokine participates in the early generation of lymphocyte subsets and maintain the survival of all lymphocyte subsets; in particular, IL-7 is essential for orchestrating the rearrangement of immunoglobulin genes and T-cell receptor genes in precursor B and T cells, respectively. In addition, IL-7 can aid the activation of immune cells in anti-virus and anti-tumor immunity and plays important roles in the restoration of immune function. These biological functions of IL-7 make it an important molecular adjuvant to improve vaccine efficacy as it can promote and extend systemic immune responses against pathogens by prolonging lymphocyte survival, enhancing effector cell activity, and increasing antigen-specific memory cell production. This review focuses on the biological function and mechanism of IL-7 and summarizes its contribution towards improved vaccine efficacy. We hope to provide a thorough overview of this cytokine and provide strategies for the development of the future vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Huang
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhiyao Long
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Renyong Jia
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mingshu Wang
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Dekang Zhu
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mafeng Liu
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shun Chen
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xinxin Zhao
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qiao Yang
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ying Wu
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shaqiu Zhang
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Bin Tian
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Sai Mao
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xumin Ou
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Di Sun
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qun Gao
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Anchun Cheng
- Research Center of Avian Disease, College of Veterinary Medicine of Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
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15
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Immune Memory in Aging: a Wide Perspective Covering Microbiota, Brain, Metabolism, and Epigenetics. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2021; 63:499-529. [PMID: 34910283 PMCID: PMC8671603 DOI: 10.1007/s12016-021-08905-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Non-specific innate and antigen-specific adaptive immunological memories are vital evolutionary adaptations that confer long-lasting protection against a wide range of pathogens. Adaptive memory is established by memory T and B lymphocytes following the recognition of an antigen. On the other hand, innate immune memory, also called trained immunity, is imprinted in innate cells such as macrophages and natural killer cells through epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming. However, these mechanisms of memory generation and maintenance are compromised as organisms age. Almost all immune cell types, both mature cells and their progenitors, go through age-related changes concerning numbers and functions. The aging immune system renders the elderly highly susceptible to infections and incapable of mounting a proper immune response upon vaccinations. Besides the increased infectious burden, older individuals also have heightened risks of metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases, which have an immunological component. This review discusses how immune function, particularly the establishment and maintenance of innate and adaptive immunological memory, regulates and is regulated by epigenetics, metabolic processes, gut microbiota, and the central nervous system throughout life, with a focus on old age. We explain in-depth how epigenetics and cellular metabolism impact immune cell function and contribute or resist the aging process. Microbiota is intimately linked with the immune system of the human host, and therefore, plays an important role in immunological memory during both homeostasis and aging. The brain, which is not an immune-isolated organ despite former opinion, interacts with the peripheral immune cells, and the aging of both systems influences the health of each other. With all these in mind, we aimed to present a comprehensive view of the aging immune system and its consequences, especially in terms of immunological memory. The review also details the mechanisms of promising anti-aging interventions and highlights a few, namely, caloric restriction, physical exercise, metformin, and resveratrol, that impact multiple facets of the aging process, including the regulation of innate and adaptive immune memory. We propose that understanding aging as a complex phenomenon, with the immune system at the center role interacting with all the other tissues and systems, would allow for more effective anti-aging strategies.
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16
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Ikuta K, Hara T, Abe S, Asahi T, Takami D, Cui G. The Roles of IL-7 and IL-15 in Niches for Lymphocyte Progenitors and Immune Cells in Lymphoid Organs. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2021; 434:83-101. [PMID: 34850283 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-86016-5_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Lymphoid organs consist of immune cells and stromal cells. The stromal cells produce various cytokines that support the development, maintenance, and response of the immune cells. IL-7 and IL-15 are the major cytokines produced by stromal cells and are essential for the development and maintenance of lymphocytes and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). In addition, IL-7 is indispensable for the organogenesis of lymphoid organs. However, because the amount of these two cytokines is relatively low, it has been difficult to directly detect their expression. Recently, several groups succeeded in establishing IL-7 and IL-15 reporter mouse lines. As expected, IL-7 and IL-15 were detected in mesenchymal stromal cells in the bone marrow and lymph nodes and in epithelial cells in the thymus. Furthermore, IL-7 and IL-15 were differentially expressed in lymphatic endothelial cells and blood endothelial cells, respectively. In addition to their expression, many groups have analyzed the local functions of IL-7 and IL-15 by using cell-type-specific knockout mice. From these experiments, CXCL12-expressing mesenchymal stromal cells were identified as the major niche for early B cell precursors. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis has revealed different subpopulations of stromal cells in the lymphoid organs, including those that express both IL-7 and IL-15. Future research is still needed to elucidate which stromal cells serve as the niche for the early precursors of ILCs and NK cells in the bone marrow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichi Ikuta
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Virus Research, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
| | - Takahiro Hara
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Virus Research, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Shinya Abe
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Virus Research, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Takuma Asahi
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Virus Research, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.,Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Daichi Takami
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Virus Research, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.,Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Guangwei Cui
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Virus Research, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
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17
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Tao Z, Jiang Y, Xia S. Regulation of thymic T regulatory cell differentiation by TECs in health and disease. Scand J Immunol 2021; 94:e13094. [PMID: 34780092 DOI: 10.1111/sji.13094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The thymus produces self-limiting and self-tolerant T cells through the interaction between thymocytes and thymus epithelial cells (TECs), thereby generating central immune tolerance. The TECs are composed of cortical and medullary thymic epithelial cells, which regulate the positive and negative selection of T cells, respectively. During the process of negative selection, thymocytes with self-reactive ability are deleted or differentiated into regulatory T cells (Tregs). Tregs are a subset of suppressor T cells that are important for maintaining immune homeostasis. The differentiation and development of Tregs depend on the development of TECs and other underlying molecular mechanisms. Tregs regulated by thymic epithelial cells are closely related to human health and are significant in autoimmune diseases, thymoma and pregnancy. In this review, we summarize the current molecular and transcriptional regulatory mechanisms by which TECs affect the development and function of thymic Tregs. We also review the pathophysiological models of thymic epithelial cells regulating thymic Tregs in human diseases and specific physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehua Tao
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Yalan Jiang
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Sheng Xia
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
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18
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Aghaallaei N, Dick AM, Tsingos E, Inoue D, Hasel E, Thumberger T, Toyoda A, Leptin M, Wittbrodt J, Bajoghli B. αβ/γδ T cell lineage outcome is regulated by intrathymic cell localization and environmental signals. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/29/eabg3613. [PMID: 34261656 PMCID: PMC8279519 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abg3613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
αβ and γδ T cells are two distinct sublineages that develop in the vertebrate thymus. Thus far, their differentiation from a common progenitor is mostly understood to be regulated by intrinsic mechanisms. However, the proportion of αβ/γδ T cells varies in different vertebrate taxa. How this process is regulated in species that tend to produce a high frequency of γδ T cells is unstudied. Using an in vivo teleost model, the medaka, we report that progenitors first enter a thymic niche where their development into γδ T cells is favored. Translocation from this niche, mediated by chemokine receptor Ccr9b, is a prerequisite for their differentiation into αβ T cells. On the other hand, the thymic niche also generates opposing gradients of the cytokine interleukin-7 and chemokine Ccl25a, and, together, they influence the lineage outcome. We propose a previously unknown mechanism that determines the proportion of αβ/γδ lineages within species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narges Aghaallaei
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Strasse 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 230, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Advaita M Dick
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Strasse 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Erika Tsingos
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 230, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Daigo Inoue
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 230, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Eva Hasel
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Thumberger
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 230, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Atsushi Toyoda
- Comparative Genomics Laboratory, Department of Genomics and Evolutionary Biology, National Institute of Genetics, Yata 1111, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Maria Leptin
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
- EMBO, Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Joachim Wittbrodt
- Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 230, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Baubak Bajoghli
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Strasse 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Meyerhofstrasse 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
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19
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Vandooren J, Pereira RVS, Ugarte-Berzal E, Rybakin V, Noppen S, Stas MR, Bernaerts E, Ganseman E, Metzemaekers M, Schols D, Proost P, Opdenakker G. Internal Disulfide Bonding and Glycosylation of Interleukin-7 Protect Against Proteolytic Inactivation by Neutrophil Metalloproteinases and Serine Proteases. Front Immunol 2021; 12:701739. [PMID: 34276694 PMCID: PMC8278288 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.701739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin 7 (IL-7) is a cell growth factor with a central role in normal T cell development, survival and differentiation. The lack of IL-7–IL-7 receptor(R)-mediated signaling compromises lymphoid development, whereas increased signaling activity contributes to the development of chronic inflammation, cancer and autoimmunity. Gain-of-function alterations of the IL-7R and the signaling through Janus kinases (JAKs) and signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) are enriched in T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and autocrine production of IL-7 by T-ALL cells is involved in the phenotypes of leukemic initiation and oncogenic spreading. Several IL-7-associated pathologies are also characterized by increased presence of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), due to neutrophil degranulation and its regulated production by other cell types. Since proteases secreted by neutrophils are known to modulate the activity of many cytokines, we investigated the interactions between IL-7, MMP-9 and several other neutrophil-derived proteases. We demonstrated that MMP-9 efficiently cleaved human IL-7 in the exposed loop between the α-helices C and D and that this process is delayed by IL-7 N-linked glycosylation. Functionally, the proteolytic cleavage of IL-7 did not influence IL-7Rα binding and internalization nor the direct pro-proliferative effects of IL-7 on a T-ALL cell line (HPB-ALL) or in primary CD8+ human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. A comparable effect was observed for the neutrophil serine proteases neutrophil elastase, proteinase 3 and combinations of neutrophil proteases. Hence, glycosylation and disulfide bonding as two posttranslational modifications influence IL-7 bioavailability in the human species: glycosylation protects against proteolysis, whereas internal cysteine bridging under physiological redox state keeps the IL-7 conformations as active proteoforms. Finally, we showed that mouse IL-7 does not contain the protease-sensitive loop and, consequently, was not cleaved by MMP-9. With the latter finding we discovered differences in IL-7 biology between the human and mouse species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Vandooren
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rafaela Vaz Sousa Pereira
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Estefania Ugarte-Berzal
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Vasily Rybakin
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sam Noppen
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Melissa R Stas
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eline Bernaerts
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eva Ganseman
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mieke Metzemaekers
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dominique Schols
- Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Paul Proost
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ghislain Opdenakker
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Rega Institute for Medical Research/KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Leuven, Belgium
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20
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Yeo GEC, Ng MH, Nordin FB, Law JX. Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Rejuvenation of the Aging Immune System. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:5749. [PMID: 34072224 PMCID: PMC8198707 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid growth of the geriatric population has been made possible with advancements in pharmaceutical and health sciences. Hence, age-associated diseases are becoming more common. Aging encompasses deterioration of the immune system, known as immunosenescence. Dysregulation of the immune cell production, differentiation, and functioning lead to a chronic subclinical inflammatory state termed inflammaging. The hallmarks of the aging immune system are decreased naïve cells, increased memory cells, and increased serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation is a promising solution to halt immunosenescence as the cells have excellent immunomodulatory functions and low immunogenicity. This review compiles the present knowledge of the causes and changes of the aging immune system and the potential of MSC transplantation as a regenerative therapy for immunosenescence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jia Xian Law
- Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Cheras 56000, Malaysia; (G.E.C.Y.); (M.H.N.); (F.B.N.)
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21
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Han J, Zúñiga-Pflücker JC. A 2020 View of Thymus Stromal Cells in T Cell Development. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 206:249-256. [PMID: 33397738 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The thymus is an intricate primary lymphoid organ, wherein bone marrow-derived lymphoid progenitor cells are induced to develop into functionally competent T cells that express a diverse TCR repertoire, which is selected to allow for the recognition of foreign Ags while avoiding self-reactivity or autoimmunity. Thymus stromal cells, which can include all non-T lineage cells, such as thymic epithelial cells, endothelial cells, mesenchymal/fibroblast cells, dendritic cells, and B cells, provide signals that are essential for thymocyte development as well as for the homeostasis of the thymic stroma itself. In this brief review, we focus on the key roles played by thymic stromal cells during early stages of T cell development, such as promoting the homing of thymic-seeding progenitors, inducing T lineage differentiation, and supporting thymocyte survival and proliferation. We also discuss recent advances on the transcriptional regulation that govern thymic epithelial cell function as well as the cellular and molecular changes that are associated with thymic involution and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianxun Han
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada; and
| | - Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3M5, Canada; and.,Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
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22
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Thymopoiesis, Alterations in Dendritic Cells and Tregs, and Reduced T Cell Activation in Successful Extracorporeal Photopheresis Treatment of GVHD. J Clin Immunol 2021; 41:1016-1030. [PMID: 33651234 PMCID: PMC8249294 DOI: 10.1007/s10875-021-00991-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is a significant complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) and negatively affects T cell reconstitution. Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) reduces aGVHD, but the mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Our objective was to examine the impact of ECP on thymopoiesis in pediatric aGVHD and the mechanisms at a cellular and transcriptional level. Sixteen pediatric HSCT patients were recruited: 6 with ECP-treated aGVHD, 5 without aGVHD, and 5 with aGVHD treated with corticosteroids only. Thymopoiesis was evaluated by measuring naive T cells, TRECs, IL-7, and T cell receptor repertoire diversity. Regulatory T cell (Treg) enumeration and function and dendritic cell (DC) enumeration and phenotype were analyzed using flow cytometry. T cell transcriptome analysis was performed on ECP patients after treatment and responders pre- and post-treatment. Four ECP responders demonstrated thymic-dependent T cell recovery, and superior median naïve T cell numbers at 8 and 12 months post-HSCT compared to the aGVHD corticosteroid group. Increased Tregs and Treg suppressive function, reduced cDC/pDC and DC co-stimulatory marker expression in ECP responders suggest upregulated peripheral tolerance; these findings were not observed in partial responders. Responder post-ECP CD3+ T cell transcriptional profile demonstrated 3333 downregulated and 364 upregulated genes, with significant downregulation of ERRα and GαS pathways, and reduced expression of pro-inflammatory and adhesion proteins. Thymic function improves with successful ECP treatment. ECP reduces T cell activation and impacts peripheral tolerance via DCs and Tregs. Differences in thymic recovery, DC, and Treg cellular patterns and the T cell transcriptome were observed between ECP responders and partial responders and require further validation and investigation in additional patients.
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Park JH, Lee HK. Function of γδ T cells in tumor immunology and their application to cancer therapy. Exp Mol Med 2021; 53:318-327. [PMID: 33707742 PMCID: PMC8080836 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-021-00576-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
T cells of the γδ lineage are unconventional T cells with functions not restricted to MHC-mediated antigen presentation. Because of their broad antigen specificity and NK-like cytotoxicity, γδ T-cell importance in tumor immunology has been emphasized. However, some γδ T-cell subsets, especially those expressing IL-17, are immunosuppressive or tumor-promoting cells. Their cytokine profile and cytotoxicity are seemingly determined by cross-talk with microenvironment components, not by the γδTCR chain. Furthermore, much about the TCR antigen of γδ T cells remains unknown compared with the extreme diversity of their TCR chain pairs. Thus, the investigation and application of γδ T cells have been relatively difficult. Nevertheless, γδ T cells remain attractive targets for antitumor therapy because of their independence from MHC molecules. Because tumor cells have the ability to evade the immune system through MHC shedding, heterogeneous antigens, and low antigen spreading, MHC-independent γδ T cells represent good alternative targets for immunotherapy. Therefore, many approaches to using γδ T cells for antitumor therapy have been attempted, including induction of endogenous γδ T cell activation, adoptive transfer of expanded cells ex vivo, and utilization of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells. Here, we discuss the function of γδ T cells in tumor immunology and their application to cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jang Hyun Park
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Heung Kyu Lee
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
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24
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Abstract
Clinical trials have demonstrated that an increased number of effector cells, especially tumor-specific T cells, is positively linked with patients’ prognosis. Although the discovery of checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) has led to encouraging progress in cancer immunotherapy, the lack of either T cells or targets for CPIs is a limitation for patients with poor prognosis. Since interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-7 are cytokines that target many aspects of T-cell responses, they have been used to treat cancers. In this review, we focus on the basic biology of how these cytokines regulate T-cell response and on the clinical trials using the cytokines against cancer. Further, we introduce several recent studies that aim to improve cytokines’ biological activities and find the strategy for combination with other therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Hae Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology(POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Korea
| | - Kun-Joo Lee
- Division of Integrative Biosciences and Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology(POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Korea
| | - Seung-Woo Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology(POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Korea
- Division of Integrative Biosciences and Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology(POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Korea
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25
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Monomorphic Epitheliotropic Intestinal T-Cell Lymphoma in Asia Frequently Shows SETD2 Alterations. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12123539. [PMID: 33260897 PMCID: PMC7759862 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma (MEITL) is a rare primary T-cell lymphoma of the digestive tract that is characterized by an aggressive clinical course. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinicopathological characteristics and genomic profile of Asian MEITL. In this study, nine cases of Japanese MEITL were analyzed by targeted Next Generation Sequencing and immunohistochemistry and were integrated with previously reported whole-genome copy number microarray-based assay data. All cases showed alterations of the tumor suppressor gene SETD2 and mutations in one or more genes of the JAK/STAT pathway. Therefore, we concluded that the combination of epigenetic deregulation and cell signaling activation may represent a major oncogenic event in the pathogenesis of Asian MEITL, similar to Western MEITL. Abstract Monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma (MEITL) is a rare primary T-cell lymphoma of the digestive tract derived from intraepithelial lymphocytes and characterized by an aggressive clinical course. In this study, nine cases of Japanese MEITL were analyzed by targeted Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and immunohistochemistry and were integrated with previously reported whole-genome copy number microarray-based assay data. The highlight of our findings is that all cases showed alterations of the tumor suppressor gene SETD2 by mutations and/or loss of the corresponding 3p21 locus. We also demonstrated that all cases showed mutations in one or more genes of JAK/STAT pathway. Therefore, the combination of epigenetic deregulation and cell signaling activation represent major oncogenic events in the pathogenesis of MEITL in Asian MEITL, similar to Western MEITL.
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26
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García-Ceca J, Montero-Herradón S, Zapata AG. Intrathymic Selection and Defects in the Thymic Epithelial Cell Development. Cells 2020; 9:cells9102226. [PMID: 33023072 PMCID: PMC7601110 DOI: 10.3390/cells9102226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Intimate interactions between thymic epithelial cells (TECs) and thymocytes (T) have been repeatedly reported as essential for performing intrathymic T-cell education. Nevertheless, it has been described that animals exhibiting defects in these interactions were capable of a proper positive and negative T-cell selection. In the current review, we first examined distinct types of TECs and their possible role in the immune surveillance. However, EphB-deficient thymi that exhibit profound thymic epithelial (TE) alterations do not exhibit important immunological defects. Eph and their ligands, the ephrins, are implicated in cell attachment/detachment and govern, therefore, TEC–T interactions. On this basis, we hypothesized that a few normal TE areas could be enough for a proper phenotypical and functional maturation of T lymphocytes. Then, we evaluated in vivo how many TECs would be necessary for supporting a normal T-cell differentiation, concluding that a significantly low number of TEC are still capable of supporting normal T lymphocyte maturation, whereas with fewer numbers, T-cell maturation is not possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier García-Ceca
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.G.-C.); (S.M.-H.)
- Health Research Institute, Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), 28041 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara Montero-Herradón
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.G.-C.); (S.M.-H.)
- Health Research Institute, Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), 28041 Madrid, Spain
| | - Agustín G. Zapata
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.G.-C.); (S.M.-H.)
- Health Research Institute, Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), 28041 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-91-394-4979
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27
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Kinsella S, Dudakov JA. When the Damage Is Done: Injury and Repair in Thymus Function. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1745. [PMID: 32903477 PMCID: PMC7435010 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Even though the thymus is exquisitely sensitive to acute insults like infection, shock, or common cancer therapies such as cytoreductive chemo- or radiation-therapy, it also has a remarkable capacity for repair. This phenomenon of endogenous thymic regeneration has been known for longer even than its primary function to generate T cells, however, the underlying mechanisms controlling the process have been largely unstudied. Although there is likely continual thymic involution and regeneration in response to stress and infection in otherwise healthy people, acute and profound thymic damage such as that caused by common cancer cytoreductive therapies or the conditioning regimes as part of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), leads to prolonged T cell deficiency; precipitating high morbidity and mortality from opportunistic infections and may even facilitate cancer relapse. Furthermore, this capacity for regeneration declines with age as a function of thymic involution; which even at steady state leads to reduced capacity to respond to new pathogens, vaccines, and immunotherapy. Consequently, there is a real clinical need for strategies that can boost thymic function and enhance T cell immunity. One approach to the development of such therapies is to exploit the processes of endogenous thymic regeneration into novel pharmacologic strategies to boost T cell reconstitution in clinical settings of immune depletion such as HCT. In this review, we will highlight recent work that has revealed the mechanisms by which the thymus is capable of repairing itself and how this knowledge is being used to develop novel therapies to boost immune function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinéad Kinsella
- Program in Immunology, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Jarrod A. Dudakov
- Program in Immunology, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States
- Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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28
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Mukohira H, Hara T, Abe S, Tani-Ichi S, Sehara-Fujisawa A, Nagasawa T, Tobe K, Ikuta K. Mesenchymal stromal cells in bone marrow express adiponectin and are efficiently targeted by an adiponectin promoter-driven Cre transgene. Int Immunol 2020; 31:729-742. [PMID: 31094421 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxz042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Stromal cells in bone marrow (BM) constitute a specific microenvironment supporting the development and maintenance of hematopoietic cells. Adiponectin is a cytokine secreted by adipocytes. Besides its anti-diabetic and anti-atherogenic roles, adiponectin reportedly regulates the development and function of hematopoietic cells in BM. However, it remains unclear whether mesenchymal stromal cells in BM express adiponectin. Here, we show that PDGFRβ+VCAM-1+ stromal cells express adiponectin. Lineage tracing revealed that a majority of PDGFRβ+VCAM-1+ cells were targeted by an adiponectin promoter-driven Cre (Adipoq-Cre) transgene. Additionally, the Adipoq-Cre transgene targets a minority of osteoblasts at a younger age but larger populations are targeted at an older age. Furthermore, the Adipoq-Cre transgene targets almost all CXCL12-abundant reticular (CAR) cells and most of the stromal cells targeted by the Adipoq-Cre transgene are CAR cells. Finally, deletion of interleukin-7 (IL-7) by the Adipoq-Cre transgene resulted in severe impairment of B lymphopoiesis in BM. These results demonstrate that PDGFRβ+VCAM-1+ stromal cells in BM express adiponectin and are targeted by the Adipoq-Cre transgene, suggesting a broader specificity of the Adipoq-Cre transgene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisa Mukohira
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Virus Research, Institute of Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takahiro Hara
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Virus Research, Institute of Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shinya Abe
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Virus Research, Institute of Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shizue Tani-Ichi
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Virus Research, Institute of Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Atsuko Sehara-Fujisawa
- Laboratory of Tissue Stem Cell Biology, Department of Regeneration Science and Engineering, Institute of Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takashi Nagasawa
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Immunology, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences and Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazuyuki Tobe
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Koichi Ikuta
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Department of Virus Research, Institute of Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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29
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Kondo K, Ohigashi I, Takahama Y. Thymus machinery for T-cell selection. Int Immunol 2020; 31:119-125. [PMID: 30476234 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxy081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
An immunocompetent and self-tolerant pool of naive T cells is formed in the thymus through the process of repertoire selection. T cells that are potentially capable of responding to foreign antigens are positively selected in the thymic cortex and are further selected in the thymic medulla to help prevent self-reactivity. The affinity between T-cell antigen receptors expressed by newly generated T cells and self-peptide-major histocompatibility complexes displayed in the thymic microenvironments plays a key role in determining the fate of developing T cells during thymic selection. Recent advances in our knowledge of the biology of thymic epithelial cells have revealed unique machinery that contributes to positive and negative selection in the thymus. In this article, we summarize recent findings on thymic T-cell selection, focusing on the machinery unique to thymic epithelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenta Kondo
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, University of Tokushima, Kuramoto, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Izumi Ohigashi
- Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, University of Tokushima, Kuramoto, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Yousuke Takahama
- Experimental Immunology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.,Division of Experimental Immunology, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, University of Tokushima, Kuramoto, Tokushima, Japan
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30
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Flip the coin: IL-7 and IL-7R in health and disease. Nat Immunol 2019; 20:1584-1593. [PMID: 31745336 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-019-0479-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 176] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The cytokine IL-7 and its receptor, IL-7R, are critical for T cell and, in the mouse, B cell development, as well as differentiation and survival of naive T cells, and generation and maintenance of memory T cells. They are also required for innate lymphoid cell (ILC) development and maintenance, and consequently for generation of lymphoid structures and barrier defense. Here we discuss the central role of IL-7 and IL-7R in the lymphoid system and highlight the impact of their deregulation, placing a particular emphasis on their 'dark side' as promoters of cancer development. We also explore therapeutic implications and opportunities associated with either positive or negative modulation of the IL-7-IL-7R signaling axis.
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31
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Luan R, Liang Z, Zhang Q, Sun L, Zhao Y. Molecular regulatory networks of thymic epithelial cell differentiation. Differentiation 2019; 107:42-49. [PMID: 31238242 DOI: 10.1016/j.diff.2019.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Functional mature T cells are generated in the thymus. Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) provide the essential microenvironment for T cell development and maturation. According to their function and localization, TECs are roughly divided into cortical TECs (cTECs) and medullary TECs (mTECs), which are responsible for positive and negative selection, respectively. This review summarizes the current understanding of TEC biology, the identification of fetal and adult bipotent TEC progenitors, and the signaling pathways that control the development and maturation of TECs. The understanding of the ontogeny, differentiation, maturation and function of cTECs lags behind that of mTECs. Better understanding TEC biology will provide clues about TEC development and the applications of thymus engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Luan
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhanfeng Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Liguang Sun
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
| | - Yong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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32
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Can physical activity ameliorate immunosenescence and thereby reduce age-related multi-morbidity? Nat Rev Immunol 2019; 19:563-572. [DOI: 10.1038/s41577-019-0177-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 181] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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33
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Zhang X, Huo L, Song L, Hu Z, Wang X, Han Y, Wang Y, Xu P, Zhang J, Hua ZC. Dominant Negative FADD/MORT1 Inhibits the Development of Intestinal Intraepithelial Lymphocytes With a Marked Defect on CD8αα+TCRγδ+ T Cells. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2038. [PMID: 30250469 PMCID: PMC6139313 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) play a critical role in mucosal immune system, which differ from thymus-derived cells and develop locally in gut. Although the development of IELs has been studied in some detail, the molecular cues controlling their local development remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that FADD, a classic adaptor protein required for death-receptor-induced apoptosis, is a critical regulator of the intestinal IEL development. The mice with a dominant negative mutant of FADD (FADD-DN) display an abnormal development of intestinal IELs with a marked reduction in the numbers of CD8αα+TCRγδ+ T cells. As a precursor for CD8αα+ development, lamina propria lymphocytes in lin-negative expression (lin- LPLs) were analyzed and the massive accumulation of IL-7R-lin- LPLs was observed in FADD-DN mice. As IL-7R is one of Notch1-target genes, we further observed that the level of Notch1 expression was lower in Lin- LPLs from FADD-DN mice compared with normal mice. The downregulation of Notch1 expression induced by FADD-DN overexpression was also confirmed in Jurkat T cells. Considering that IL-7 and its receptor IL7-R play a differentiation inducing role in the development of intestinal IELs, the influence of FADD via its DD domain on Notch1 expression might be a possible molecular signal involved in the early IELs development. In addition, loss of γδ T-IELs in FADD-DN mice aggravates DSS-induced colitis, suggesting that FADD is a relevant contribution to the field of mucosal immunology and intestinal homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuerui Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.,Changzhou High-Tech Research Institute of Nanjing University and Jiangsu Target Pharma Laboratories Inc., Changzhou, China
| | - Lina Huo
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lulu Song
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhaoqing Hu
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinran Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuheng Han
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ying Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.,Changzhou High-Tech Research Institute of Nanjing University and Jiangsu Target Pharma Laboratories Inc., Changzhou, China
| | - Peipei Xu
- Department of Hematology, Drum Tower Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.,Changzhou High-Tech Research Institute of Nanjing University and Jiangsu Target Pharma Laboratories Inc., Changzhou, China
| | - Zi-Chun Hua
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.,Changzhou High-Tech Research Institute of Nanjing University and Jiangsu Target Pharma Laboratories Inc., Changzhou, China.,Shenzhen Research Institute of Nanjing University, Shenzhen, China
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34
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Van Acker HH, Campillo-Davo D, Roex G, Versteven M, Smits EL, Van Tendeloo VF. The role of the common gamma-chain family cytokines in γδ T cell-based anti-cancer immunotherapy. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2018; 41:54-64. [PMID: 29773448 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2018.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2018] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Cytokines of the common gamma-chain receptor family, comprising interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15 and IL-21, are vital with respect to organizing and sustaining healthy immune cell functions. Supporting the anti-cancer immune response, these cytokines inspire great interest for their use as vaccine adjuvants and cancer immunotherapies. It is against this background that gamma delta (γδ) T cells, as special-force soldiers and natural contributors of the tumor immunosurveillance, also received a lot of attention the last decade. As γδ T cell-based cancer trials are coming of age, this present review focusses on the effects of the different cytokines of the common gamma-chain receptor family on γδ T cells with respect to boosting γδ T cells as a therapeutic target in cancer immunotherapy. This review also gathers data that IL-15 in particular exhibits key features for augmenting the anti-tumor activity of effector killer γδ T cells whilst overcoming the myriad of immune escape mechanisms used by cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heleen H Van Acker
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Diana Campillo-Davo
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Gils Roex
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Maarten Versteven
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Evelien L Smits
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium; Center for Cell Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium; Center for Oncological Research (CORE), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Viggo F Van Tendeloo
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tumor Immunology Group (TIGR), Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), University of Antwerp, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium
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35
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Rodrigues PM, Ribeiro AR, Serafini N, Meireles C, Di Santo JP, Alves NL. Intrathymic Deletion of IL-7 Reveals a Contribution of the Bone Marrow to Thymic Rebound Induced by Androgen Blockade. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2018; 200:1389-1398. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1701112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/30/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Despite the well-documented effect of castration in thymic regeneration, the singular contribution of the bone marrow (BM) versus the thymus to this process remains unclear. The chief role of IL-7 in pre- and intrathymic stages of T lymphopoiesis led us to investigate the impact of disrupting this cytokine during thymic rebound induced by androgen blockade. We found that castration promoted thymopoiesis in young and aged wild-type mice. In contrast, only young germline IL-7–deficient (Il7−/−) mice consistently augmented thymopoiesis after castration. The increase in T cell production was accompanied by the expansion of the sparse medullary thymic epithelial cell and the peripheral T cell compartment in young Il7−/− mice. In contrast to young Il7−/− and wild-type mice, the poor thymic response of aged Il7−/− mice after castration was associated with a defect in the expansion of BM hematopoietic progenitors. These findings suggest that BM-derived T cell precursors contribute to thymic rebound driven by androgen blockade. To assess the role of IL-7 within the thymus, we generated mice with conditional deletion of IL-7 (Il7 conditional knockout [cKO]) in thymic epithelial cells. As expected, Il7cKO mice presented a profound defect in T cell development while maintaining an intact BM hematopoietic compartment across life. Unlike Il7−/− mice, castration promoted the expansion of BM precursors and enhanced thymic activity in Il7cKO mice independently of age. Our findings suggest that the mobilization of BM precursors acts as a prime catalyst of castration-driven thymopoiesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro M. Rodrigues
- *Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- †Thymus Development and Function Laboratory, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- ‡Doctoral Program in Biomedical Sciences, Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana R. Ribeiro
- *Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- †Thymus Development and Function Laboratory, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Nicolas Serafini
- §Innate Immunity Unit, Pasteur Institute, 75724 Paris, France; and
- ¶INSERM U1223, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Catarina Meireles
- *Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- †Thymus Development and Function Laboratory, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - James P. Di Santo
- §Innate Immunity Unit, Pasteur Institute, 75724 Paris, France; and
- ¶INSERM U1223, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Nuno L. Alves
- *Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- †Thymus Development and Function Laboratory, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
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Luo B, Chen K, Feng Q, Xiao W, Ma D, Yang H, Zhang C. The interplay of BMP4 and IL‑7 regulates the apoptosis of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes under conditions of ischemia̸reperfusion. Int J Mol Med 2018; 41:2640-2650. [PMID: 29436597 PMCID: PMC5846653 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2018.3480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The number and function of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) have been found to be significantly reduced following induction of acute intestinal mucosal damage via intestinal ischemia̸reperfusion (I̸R). However, the mechanism underlying this reduction remains unclear. Therefore, it was hypothesized that the interplay of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)4 and interleukin (IL)‑7 regulates IEL function and number. Recent studies have demonstrated that the different components of the BMP2̸4 signaling pathway are expressed in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) via the activation of nuclear factor (NF)‑κB. In the present study, reverse transcription‑polymerase chain reaction analysis and flow cytometry demonstrated that IELs express BMP receptors (BMPRIA, BMPRIB, ActRIA and BMPRII) and non‑canonical signal transduction molecules (NF‑κB). an in vivo mouse intestinal I̸R model was used, and I̸R was shown to increase the expression of BMP4 in IECs and upregulate the expression levels of BMPRIA, BMPRIB and phosphorylated NF‑κB in IELs. Following isolation and culture of IELs, it was observed that exogenous BMP4 also upregulated the expression of BMPRIA and BMPRIB and activated NF‑κB signaling in IELs, inducing IEL apoptosis. In addition, the rate of apoptosis of IELs decreased following treatment with the BMP‑specific antagonist Noggin or with the NF‑κB inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate. Furthermore, it was observed that exogenous IL‑7 can decrease BMP4 protein expression in IECs and the expression of phosphorylated NF‑κB protein in IELs. The findings of the present study suggest that, under conditions of I̸R, IEC‑derived BMP4 activates NF‑κB signaling in IELs, inducing IEL apoptosis, further aggravating the dysfunction of the intestinal mucosal barrier. However, these effects may be alleviated by IL‑7 treatment. Therefore, BMP4 and IL‑7 appear to be involved in the interaction between IECs and IELs and in the mechanism underlying intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binyu Luo
- Department of General Surgery Two, Nanchong Central Hospital, The Second Clinical College of North Sichuan Medical University, Nanchong, Sichuan 637000, P.R. China
| | - Kang Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, P.R. China
| | - Qi Feng
- Department of General Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, P.R. China
| | - Weidong Xiao
- Department of General Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, P.R. China
| | - Dan Ma
- Department of General Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, P.R. China
| | - Hua Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, P.R. China
| | - Chaojun Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Xinqiao Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400037, P.R. China
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Ortiz Franyuti D, Mitsi M, Vogel V. Mechanical Stretching of Fibronectin Fibers Upregulates Binding of Interleukin-7. NANO LETTERS 2018; 18:15-25. [PMID: 28845674 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b01617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Since evidence is rising that extracellular matrix (ECM) fibers might serve as reservoirs for growth factors and cytokines, we investigated the interaction between fibronectin (FN) and interleukin-7 (IL-7), a cytokine of immunological significance and a target of several immunotherapies. By employing a FN fiber stretch assay and Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) confocal microscopy, we found that stretching of FN fibers increased IL-7 binding. We localized the FN binding site on the CD loop of IL-7, since a synthetic CD loop peptide also bound stronger to stretched than to relaxed FN fibers. On the basis of a structural model, we propose that the CD loop can bind to FN, while IL-7 is bound to its cognate cell surface receptors. Sequence alignment with bacterial adhesins, which also bind the FN N-terminus, suggests that a conserved motif on the CD loop (110TKSLEEN116 and the truncated 112SLEE115 in human and mouse IL-7, respectively) might bind to the second FN type I module (FnI2) and that additional epitopes enhance the stretch-upregulated binding. FN fiber stretching might thus serve as a mechano-regulated mechanism to locally concentrate IL-7 in an ECM-bound state, thereby upregulating the potency of IL-7 signaling. A feedback model mechanism is proposed that could explain the well-known, but poorly understood, function of IL-7 in ECM homeostasis. Understanding how local IL-7 availability and signaling might be modulated by the tensional state of the ECM niche, which is adjusted by residing stroma cells, is highly relevant for basic science but also for advancing IL-7 based immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Ortiz Franyuti
- Laboratory of Applied Mechanobiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department for Health Sciences and Technology (D-HEST), ETH Zurich , Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 4, HCI F443 CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Maria Mitsi
- Laboratory of Applied Mechanobiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department for Health Sciences and Technology (D-HEST), ETH Zurich , Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 4, HCI F443 CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Viola Vogel
- Laboratory of Applied Mechanobiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, Department for Health Sciences and Technology (D-HEST), ETH Zurich , Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 4, HCI F443 CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland
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Majumdar S, Nandi D. Thymic Atrophy: Experimental Studies and Therapeutic Interventions. Scand J Immunol 2017; 87:4-14. [PMID: 28960415 DOI: 10.1111/sji.12618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Revised: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The thymus is essential for T cell development and maturation. It is extremely sensitive to atrophy, wherein loss in cellularity of the thymus and/or disruption of the thymic architecture occur. This may lead to lower naïve T cell output and limited TCR diversity. Thymic atrophy is often associated with ageing. What is less appreciated is that proper functioning of the thymus is critical for reduction in morbidity and mortality associated with various clinical conditions including infections and transplantation. Therefore, therapeutic interventions which possess thymopoietic potential and lower thymic atrophy are required. These treatments enhance thymic output, which is a vital factor in generating favourable outcomes in clinical conditions. In this review, experimental studies on thymic atrophy in rodents and clinical cases where the thymus atrophies are discussed. In addition, mechanisms leading to thymic atrophy during ageing as well as during various stress conditions are reviewed. Therapies such as zinc supplementation, IL7 administration, leptin treatment, keratinocyte growth factor administration and sex steroid ablation during thymic atrophy involving experiments in animals and various clinical scenarios are reviewed. Interventions that have been used across different scenarios to reduce the extent of thymic atrophy and enhance its output are discussed. This review aims to speculate on the roles of combination therapies, which by acting additively or synergistically may further alleviate thymic atrophy and boost its function, thereby strengthening cellular T cell responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Majumdar
- Department of Biochemistry & Centre for Infectious Diseases Research, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - D Nandi
- Department of Biochemistry & Centre for Infectious Diseases Research, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
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Yan F, Mo X, Liu J, Ye S, Zeng X, Chen D. Thymic function in the regulation of T cells, and molecular mechanisms underlying the modulation of cytokines and stress signaling (Review). Mol Med Rep 2017; 16:7175-7184. [PMID: 28944829 PMCID: PMC5865843 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2017.7525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The thymus is critical in establishing and maintaining the appropriate microenvironment for promoting the development and selection of T cells. The function and structure of the thymus gland has been extensively studied, particularly as the thymus serves an important physiological role in the lymphatic system. Numerous studies have investigated the morphological features of thymic involution. Recently, research attention has increasingly been focused on thymic proteins as targets for drug intervention. Omics approaches have yielded novel insights into the thymus and possible drug targets. The present review addresses the signaling and transcriptional functions of the thymus, including the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulatory functions of T cells and their role in the immune system. In addition, the levels of cytokines secreted in the thymus have a significant effect on thymic functions, including thymocyte migration and development, thymic atrophy and thymic recovery. Furthermore, the regulation and molecular mechanisms of stress-mediated thymic atrophy and involution were investigated, with particular emphasis on thymic function as a potential target for drug development and discovery using proteomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenggen Yan
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, P.R. China
| | - Xiumei Mo
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, P.R. China
| | - Junfeng Liu
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, P.R. China
| | - Siqi Ye
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, P.R. China
| | - Xing Zeng
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, P.R. China
| | - Dacan Chen
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, P.R. China
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γδ T cells in homeostasis and host defence of epithelial barrier tissues. Nat Rev Immunol 2017; 17:733-745. [PMID: 28920588 DOI: 10.1038/nri.2017.101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 323] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial surfaces line the body and provide a crucial interface between the body and the external environment. Tissue-resident epithelial γδ T cells represent a major T cell population in the epithelial tissues and are ideally positioned to carry out barrier surveillance and aid in tissue homeostasis and repair. In this Review, we focus on the intraepithelial γδ T cell compartment of the two largest epithelial tissues in the body - namely, the epidermis and the intestine - and provide a comprehensive overview of the crucial contributions of intraepithelial γδ T cells to tissue integrity and repair, host homeostasis and protection in the context of the symbiotic relationship with the microbiome and during pathogen clearance. Finally, we describe epithelium-specific butyrophilin-like molecules and briefly review their emerging role in selectively shaping and regulating epidermal and intestinal γδ T cell repertoires.
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41
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Interleukin-7 in the transition of bone marrow progenitors to the thymus. Immunol Cell Biol 2017; 95:916-924. [PMID: 28811625 DOI: 10.1038/icb.2017.68] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2016] [Revised: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is essential for the development of T cells in humans and mice where deficiencies in IL-7 signaling result in severe immunodeficiency. T cells require IL-7 at multiple points during development; however, it is unclear when IL-7 is first necessary. We observed that mice with impaired IL-7 signaling had a large reduction in the number of early thymic progenitors (ETPs) while mice that overexpress IL-7 had greatly increased numbers of ETPs. These results indicated that the development of ETPs is sensitive to IL-7. Bone marrow progenitors of ETP are present in normal numbers in mice with impaired IL-7 signaling (IL-7Rα449F) and were efficiently recruited to the thymus. Furthermore, ETPs and their progenitors from IL-7Rα449F mice did not undergo increased apoptosis and proliferate normally compared to WT cells. Mixed bone marrow chimeras demonstrated that IL-7 signaling has a cell-intrinsic role in ETP development but was not required for development of bone marrow progenitors. We have shown a novel role for IL-7 signaling in the development of ETPs that is distinct from classic mechanisms of IL-7 regulating survival and proliferation.
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Apert C, Romagnoli P, van Meerwijk JPM. IL-2 and IL-15 dependent thymic development of Foxp3-expressing regulatory T lymphocytes. Protein Cell 2017; 9:322-332. [PMID: 28540653 PMCID: PMC5876181 DOI: 10.1007/s13238-017-0425-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunosuppressive regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg) expressing the transcription factor Foxp3 play a vital role in the maintenance of tolerance of the immune-system to self and innocuous non-self. Most Treg that are critical for the maintenance of tolerance to self, develop as an independent T-cell lineage from common T cell precursors in the thymus. In this organ, their differentiation requires signals from the T cell receptor for antigen, from co-stimulatory molecules, as well as from cytokine-receptors. Here we focus on the cytokines implicated in thymic development of Treg, with a particular emphasis on the roles of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-15. The more recently appreciated involvement of TGF-β in thymic Treg development is also briefly discussed. Finally, we discuss how cytokine-dependence of Treg development allows for temporal, quantitative, and potentially qualitative modulation of this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cécile Apert
- CPTP, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Inserm, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Paola Romagnoli
- CPTP, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Inserm, UPS, Toulouse, France.
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Ito K, Nakajima A, Fukushima Y, Suzuki K, Sakamoto K, Hamazaki Y, Ogasawara K, Minato N, Hattori M. The potential role of Osteopontin in the maintenance of commensal bacteria homeostasis in the intestine. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0173629. [PMID: 28296922 PMCID: PMC5351998 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0173629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Osteopontin (Opn), a multifunctional extracellular matrix protein, is implicated in the pathogenesis of various inflammatory disorders. Under physiologic conditions, its expression is restricted to certain tissues including bone and kidney tubule. However, cellular activation during disease development induces Opn expression in various immune cells. In this study, using Opn-EGFP knock-in (KI) mice we found that CD8α+ T cells in the intestinal tissues, including Peyer’s patch, lamina propria and epithelium, express Opn under steady state conditions. Therefore, we examined the role of Opn-expressing CD8α+ T cells in intestinal homeostasis. Interestingly, Opn knockout (KO) mice had altered fecal microflora concordant with a reduction of TCRγδ+ intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs). Consistent with this result, both treatment with anti-Opn blocking antibody and deficiency of Opn resulted in decreased survival of TCRγδ+ and TCRαβ+ IELs. This data suggests that a possibility that Opn may function as a survival factor for IELs in the intestinal tissue. Collectively, these data suggest the possibility that Opn might regulate the homeostasis of intestinal microflora through maintenance of TCRγδ+ IELs, possibly by support of IEL survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koyu Ito
- Center for Innovation in Immunoregulative Technology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Development, Ageing, and Cancer, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
- * E-mail: (KI); (MH)
| | - Akira Nakajima
- Center for Innovation in Immunoregulative Technology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yuji Fukushima
- Center for Innovation in Immunoregulative Technology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Keiichiro Suzuki
- Center for Innovation in Immunoregulative Technology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Keiko Sakamoto
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoko Hamazaki
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kouetsu Ogasawara
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Development, Ageing, and Cancer, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Nagahiro Minato
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Masakazu Hattori
- Center for Innovation in Immunoregulative Technology and Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
- * E-mail: (KI); (MH)
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Roberti A, Dobay MP, Bisig B, Vallois D, Boéchat C, Lanitis E, Bouchindhomme B, Parrens MC, Bossard C, Quintanilla-Martinez L, Missiaglia E, Gaulard P, de Leval L. Type II enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma features a unique genomic profile with highly recurrent SETD2 alterations. Nat Commun 2016; 7:12602. [PMID: 27600764 PMCID: PMC5023950 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2016] [Accepted: 07/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL), a rare and aggressive intestinal malignancy of intraepithelial T lymphocytes, comprises two disease variants (EATL-I and EATL-II) differing in clinical characteristics and pathological features. Here we report findings derived from whole-exome sequencing of 15 EATL-II tumour-normal tissue pairs. The tumour suppressor gene SETD2 encoding a non-redundant H3K36-specific trimethyltransferase is altered in 14/15 cases (93%), mainly by loss-of-function mutations and/or loss of the corresponding locus (3p21.31). These alterations consistently correlate with defective H3K36 trimethylation. The JAK/STAT pathway comprises recurrent STAT5B (60%), JAK3 (46%) and SH2B3 (20%) mutations, including a STAT5B V712E activating variant. In addition, frequent mutations in TP53, BRAF and KRAS are observed. Conversely, in EATL-I, no SETD2, STAT5B or JAK3 mutations are found, and H3K36 trimethylation is preserved. This study describes SETD2 inactivation as EATL-II molecular hallmark, supports EATL-I and -II being two distinct entities, and defines potential new targets for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Roberti
- University Institute of Pathology, Service of Clinical Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, 25 rue du Bugnon, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Maria Pamela Dobay
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics - Quartier Sorge, bâtiment Génopode, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Bettina Bisig
- University Institute of Pathology, Service of Clinical Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, 25 rue du Bugnon, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - David Vallois
- University Institute of Pathology, Service of Clinical Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, 25 rue du Bugnon, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Cloé Boéchat
- University Institute of Pathology, Service of Clinical Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, 25 rue du Bugnon, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Evripidis Lanitis
- Ludwig Cancer Research Center Lausanne, Chemin des Boveresses 155, Biopôle III, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Brigitte Bouchindhomme
- Institute of Pathology, CHR-U de Lille/Université de Lille II, Avenue Oscar Lambret, 59037 Lille Cedex, France
| | - Marie-Cécile Parrens
- Department of Pathology, CHU de Bordeaux, Hopital du Haut Lévêque, Avenue Magellan, 33604 Pessac, France
| | - Céline Bossard
- Department of Pathology, CHU de Nantes - Hôtel Dieu, 9 quai Moncousu - Plateau technique 1, 44093 Nantes, France
| | - Leticia Quintanilla-Martinez
- Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen and Comprehensive Cancer Center, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Edoardo Missiaglia
- University Institute of Pathology, Service of Clinical Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, 25 rue du Bugnon, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.,SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics - Quartier Sorge, bâtiment Génopode, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Gaulard
- Department of Pathology, Hôpital Henri Mondor, AP-HP, INSERM U955, and University Paris-Est, 51 Avenue du Mal de Lattre de Tassigny, 94010 Créteil, France
| | - Laurence de Leval
- University Institute of Pathology, Service of Clinical Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, 25 rue du Bugnon, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
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Carow B, Gao Y, Coquet J, Reilly M, Rottenberg ME. lck-Driven Cre Expression Alters T Cell Development in the Thymus and the Frequencies and Functions of Peripheral T Cell Subsets. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2016; 197:2261-8. [PMID: 27503210 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1600827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 07/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Conditional gene targeting using the bacteriophage-derived Cre recombinase is widely applied for functional gene studies in mice. Mice transgenic for Cre under the control of the lck gene promoter are used to study the role of loxP-targeted genes in T cell development and function. In this article, we show a striking 65% reduction in cellularity, preferential development of γδ versus αβ T cells, and increased expression of IL-7R in the thymus of mice expressing Cre under the proximal lck promoter (lck-cre(+) mice). The transition from CD4/CD8 double-negative to double-positive cells was blocked, and lck-cre(+) double-positive cells were more prone to apoptosis and showed higher levels of Cre expression. Importantly, numbers of naive T cells were reduced in spleens and lymph nodes of lck-cre(+) mice. In contrast, frequencies of γδ T cells, CD44(+)CD62L(-) effector T cells, and Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells were elevated, as was the frequency of IFN-γ-secreting CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. A literature survey of 332 articles that used lck-cre(+) mice for deletion of floxed genes indicated that results are statistically influenced by the control used (lck-cre(+) or lck-cre(-)), more frequently resembling the lck-cre(+) phenotype described in this article if lck-cre(-) controls were used. Altogether, care should be taken when interpreting published results and to properly control targeted gene deletions using the lck-cre(+) strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berit Carow
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor, and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, S 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; and
| | - Yu Gao
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor, and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, S 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; and
| | - Jonathan Coquet
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor, and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, S 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; and
| | - Marie Reilly
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, S 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Martin E Rottenberg
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor, and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, S 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; and
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Beattie B, Cole D, Nicholson L, Leech S, Taylor A, Robson H, Guest J, Wang XN, Gennery AR. Limited thymic recovery after extracorporeal photopheresis in a low-body-weight patient with acute graft-versus-host disease of the skin. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2016; 137:1890-1893.e1. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2015.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2015] [Revised: 10/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/27/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Joseph C, Nota C, Fletcher JL, Maluenda AC, Green AC, Purton LE. Retinoic Acid Receptor γ Regulates B and T Lymphopoiesis via Nestin-Expressing Cells in the Bone Marrow and Thymic Microenvironments. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2016; 196:2132-44. [PMID: 26843326 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1501246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2015] [Accepted: 01/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2023]
Abstract
Vitamin A has essential but largely unexplained roles in regulating lymphopoiesis. We have previously shown that retinoic acid receptor (RAR) γ-deficient mice have hematopoietic defects, some phenotypes of which were microenvironment induced. Bone marrow (BM) microenvironment cells identified by either their expression of nestin (Nes) or osterix (Osx) have previously been shown to have roles in regulating lymphopoiesis. We therefore conditionally deleted Rarγ in Nes- or Osx-expressing microenvironment cells. Osx cell-specific deletion of Rarγ had no impact on hematopoiesis. In contrast, deletion of Rarγ in Nes-expressing cells resulted in reductions in peripheral blood B cells and CD4(+) T cells, accompanied by reductions of immature PreB cells in BM. The mice lacking Rarγ in Nes-expressing cells also had smaller thymi, with reductions in double-negative 4 T cell precursors, accompanied by reduced numbers of both TCRβ(low) immature single-positive CD8(+) cells and double-positive T cells. In the thymus, Nes expression was restricted to thymic stromal cells that expressed cerebellar degeneration-related Ag 1 and lacked expression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule. These cells expressed platelet-derived growth factor α and high transcript levels of Rars, Cxcl12, and stem cell factor (Scf). Short-term treatment of mice with all-trans retinoic acid resulted in increased PreB lymphopoiesis in BM and an increase in thymic double-negative 4 T cells, inverse to that observed upon Nes cell-specific deletion of Rarγ. Collectively, these studies show that RARγ is a regulator of B and T lymphopoiesis via Nes-expressing cells in the BM and thymic microenvironments, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chacko Joseph
- Stem Cell Regulation Unit, St. Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia; and Department of Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia
| | - Celeste Nota
- Stem Cell Regulation Unit, St. Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia; and
| | - Jessica L Fletcher
- Stem Cell Regulation Unit, St. Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia; and
| | - Ana C Maluenda
- Stem Cell Regulation Unit, St. Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia; and
| | - Alanna C Green
- Stem Cell Regulation Unit, St. Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia; and Department of Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia
| | - Louise E Purton
- Stem Cell Regulation Unit, St. Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia; and Department of Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia
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Nitta T, Suzuki H. Thymic stromal cell subsets for T cell development. Cell Mol Life Sci 2016; 73:1021-37. [PMID: 26825337 PMCID: PMC11108406 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-015-2107-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Revised: 11/26/2015] [Accepted: 12/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The thymus provides a specialized microenvironment in which a variety of stromal cells of both hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic origin regulate development and repertoire selection of T cells. Recent studies have been unraveling the inter- and intracellular signals and transcriptional networks for spatiotemporal regulation of development of thymic stromal cells, mainly thymic epithelial cells (TECs), and the molecular mechanisms of how different TEC subsets control T cell development and selection. TECs are classified into two functionally different subsets: cortical TECs (cTECs) and medullary TECs (mTECs). cTECs induce positive selection of diverse and functionally distinct T cells by virtue of unique antigen-processing systems, while mTECs are essential for establishing T cell tolerance via ectopic expression of peripheral tissue-restricted antigens and cooperation with dendritic cells. In addition to reviewing the role of the thymic stroma in conventional T cell development, we will discuss recently discovered novel functions of TECs in the development of unconventional T cells, such as natural killer T cells and γδT cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Nitta
- Department of Immunology and Pathology, Research Institute, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, 272-8516, Japan.
| | - Harumi Suzuki
- Department of Immunology and Pathology, Research Institute, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Chiba, 272-8516, Japan.
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Endogenous dendritic cells from the tumor microenvironment support T-ALL growth via IGF1R activation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:E1016-25. [PMID: 26862168 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1520245113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cells require stromal-derived signals to survive. Although many studies have identified cell-intrinsic alterations in signaling pathways that promote T-ALL growth, the identity of endogenous stromal cells and their associated signals in the tumor microenvironment that support T-ALL remains unknown. By examining the thymic tumor microenvironments in multiple murine T-ALL models and primary patient samples, we discovered the emergence of prominent epithelial-free regions, enriched for proliferating tumor cells and dendritic cells (DCs). Systematic evaluation of the functional capacity of tumor-associated stromal cells revealed that myeloid cells, primarily DCs, are necessary and sufficient to support T-ALL survival ex vivo. DCs support T-ALL growth both in primary thymic tumors and at secondary tumor sites. To identify a molecular mechanism by which DCs support T-ALL growth, we first performed gene expression profiling, which revealed up-regulation of platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (Pdgfrb) and insulin-like growth factor I receptor (Igf1r) on T-ALL cells, with concomitant expression of their ligands by tumor-associated DCs. Both Pdgfrb and Igf1r were activated in ex vivo T-ALL cells, and coculture with tumor-associated, but not normal thymic DCs, sustained IGF1R activation. Furthermore, IGF1R signaling was necessary for DC-mediated T-ALL survival. Collectively, these studies provide the first evidence that endogenous tumor-associated DCs supply signals driving T-ALL growth, and implicate tumor-associated DCs and their mitogenic signals as auspicious therapeutic targets.
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Aliyari Z, Soleimanirad S, Sayyah Melli M, Tayefi Nasrabadi H, Nozad Charoudeh H. IL2rg Cytokines Enhance Umbilical Cord Blood CD34+ Cells Differentiation to T Cells. Adv Pharm Bull 2015; 5:615-9. [PMID: 26793606 DOI: 10.15171/apb.2015.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2014] [Revised: 08/28/2014] [Accepted: 08/30/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is an alternative source of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation for the treatment of patients with leukemia if matched donor is not available. CD34+ is a pan marker for human hematopoietic stem cells, including umbilical cord blood stem cell. In comparison to other sources, cord blood CD34+ cells proliferate more rapidly and produce large number of progeny cells. For ex vivo expansion of Umbilical Cord Blood- HSCs/HPCs, different combinations of cytokines have been used in many laboratories. IL2rg cytokines, including IL2, IL7 and IL15, are key cytokines in the regulation of differentiation, proliferation and survival of immune cells. IL2 is important cytokine for T cell survival and proliferation, IL7 involve in B cell development and IL15 is a key cytokine for NK cell development. In this study we evaluated the generation of T cells derived from CD34+ and CD34- cord blood mononuclear cells by using combination of cytokines including IL2, IL7 and IL15. METHODS Cultured cord blood mononuclear cells were evaluated at distinct time points during 21 days by using flow cytometry. RESULTS Present study showed that differentiation of T cells derived from CD34+ cord blood mononuclear cells increased by using IL2 and IL7 at different time points. In the other hand IL15 did not show any significant role in generation of T cells from CD34+ cord blood mononuclear cells. CONCLUSION Taken together, our data illustrated that either IL2 or IL7 versus other cytokine combinations, generate more T cell from cord blood CD34 cells, probably this cytokines can be the best condition for ex vivo expansion of UCB HSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeynab Aliyari
- Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. ; Students' Research Committee, Faculty of medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Sara Soleimanirad
- Al-Zahra Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Hamid Tayefi Nasrabadi
- Tissue Engineering Research Group, Advanced Research School, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hojjatollah Nozad Charoudeh
- Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. ; Tissue Engineering Research Group, Advanced Research School, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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